Columbine as a Catalyst: 17 Years of
Copycat Shootings
Figure 1. Graphical display of shootings inspired by and linked to Columbine, 1999-­‐2015. See Figure 4 for a complete list. The tragedy at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999 remains a touchstone for
many people concerned about their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and
neighbors attending school.
The recent release of Sue Klebold’s book and her interview on ABC News on February 12
has reminded the American public of what was—at the time—the country’s most lethal
mass shooting at an educational facility. In A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the
Aftermath of Tragedy, Klebold—the mother of Columbine shooter Dylan Klebold—
discussed her son’s pathway to violence and the signs that she believes she missed along
the way.
For others, however, Columbine was a catalyst: A path to getting the recognition and
notoriety that feel they “deserve.” To these individuals, shooters Eric Harris and Dylan
Klebold were virtual heroes, attacking the “system” and societal conformity that doomed
them to a life of drab anonymity. For example, Columbine inspired Seung-Hui Cho, who
conducted the attacks at Virginia Tech University in 2007, and referred to Harris and
Klebold as “martyrs.”1 2
Of the 63 school shootings that took place after Columbine collected by Kiernan Group
Holdings in its Active Shooteri database, 16 (25 percent) were directly inspired by
Columbine, including the Virginia Tech shootings and the Sandy Hook, Connecticut,
school massacre. Others school shootings most likely also were inspired by Columbine,
as well as countless threats and thwarted attacks. Three additional active shooter
incidents that did not take place in school settings also were inspired by Columbine.
Other findings include:
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The median age of the shooters was 16. The ages ranged from 12 to 26.
More than 50 percent of the shootings took place in a suburban or exurban
setting.
Only one shooting took place in a city with a population over 500,000.
The shootings were geographically diverse, occurring nationwide.
i
This study uses the US Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) definition of an “active shooter.” DHS defines an Active Shooter (AS) event as one in which the shooter: 1) engages in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined or populated area; 2) uses firearm(s); and 3) exhibits no pattern or method to the selection of victims. Figure 2. Columbine-­‐inspired shootings in the US, 1999-­‐2015 (note: none in AK or HI). The Columbine High School shooting wasn’t the only event that inspired others. The
Virginia Tech shooting, for example, spawned at least 4 additional shootings, including
2 that also were sparked by Columbine (Larose-Cut Off Middle School and Seattle
Pacific University). Figure 3. Shootings inspired by and linked to the Virginia Tech University attacks. Despite the continuing inspiration the Columbine High School shooting provides for
some marginalized youth, the event has raised awareness of mental health issues such
as teenage depression and suicidal or homicidal ideation and has focused energy and
resources into prevention and preparation. Most school districts across the country now
have emergency management plans designed to prepare for active threats, and some
schoolchildren as young as middle school are taught the Department of Homeland
Security’s mantra: “If you see something, say something.” Awareness and preparedness
are key components of preventing the next Columbine.
There are many other ways to break down and analyze the data from this brief study. Of
possible significance from a prevention standpoint is the concentration of attacks taking
place in suburban and exurban settings. Further study of the socioeconomics of
suburban life and education may provide additional insight. At the very least, educators
in suburban school systems should have in place suitable plans and policies to deal with
this threat.
For information about securing your facility from threats of an active shooter, contact
Kiernan Group Holdings at [email protected].
Figure 4. Active Shooter Events Inspired by Columbine, 1999-­‐2015. Event Heritage High School Fort Gibson Middle School Santana High School Granite Hills High School Columbia High School Best Buy/Hudson Valley Mall Pine Middle School Orange High School Memorial Middle School Springwater Trail High School Virginia Tech University City Conyers Fort Gibson Santee El Cajon East Greenbush State GA OK CA CA Kingston Reno Orange Joplin NY NV NC MO 2/13/2005 3/14/2006 8/30/2006 10/8/2006 Robert Bonelli James Newman Alvaro Castillo Thomas White 25 14 18 13 OR VA 4/10/2007 Chad Escobedo 4/16/2007 Seung-­‐Hui Cho 15 23 CO 12/9/2007 Matthew Murray 24 Gresham Blacksburg Arvada and Youth with a Mission/New Colorado Life Church Springs Larose-­‐Cut Off Middle School Cut Off Perry Hall High School Perry Hall Sandy Hook Elementary Monroe Sparks Middle School Sparks Arapahoe High School Centennial FedEx Ground Warehouse Kennesaw NY LA MD CT NV CO GA Date 5/20/1990 12/6/1999 3/5/2001 3/22/2001 Shooter Thomas Solomon Seth Trickey Charles Andrew Jason Hoffman 2/9/2004 Jon Romano 5/18/2009 8/27/2012 12/14/2012 10/21/2013 12/13/2013 4/29/2014 Justin Doucet Robert Gladden Adam Lanza Jose Reyes Karl Pierson Geddy Kramer Age of Shooter 15 13 15 18 16 15 15 20 12 18 19 Seattle Pacific University Seattle WA 6/5/2014 Aaron Ybarra 26 James, Susan D., “Psychology of Virginia Tech, Columbine Killers Still Baffles Experts,”
ABCNews.com. Retrieved on 7 December 2014 from
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/story?id=7345607
2 Nicholson, Kieran, “Cho: Killers at Columbine ‘Martyrs’,” The Denver Post. Retrieved
on 7 December 2014 from http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_5699066
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